Performing Care – 5241, 2024

Tissue Paper, Fishing Wire
Ongoing

In the immersive performance artwork "Performing Care –– 5241," the artist undertakes a solemn act of remembrance and resistance through the meticulous folding, sewing, and hanging of 5,241 pieces of tissue paper. Each piece symbolizes an individual life lost to COVID-19 in China, embodying a gesture of care and respect towards those who departed amidst the pandemic's shadow. This act, performed for one hour each day, transcends mere memorialization, engaging deeply with the concept of "staying with the trouble" as articulated by Donna Haraway and explored within the broader socio-political critique of power dynamics in contemporary China.

Rooted in auto-theory and Art-Based Research (ABR), this piece weaves the artist's personal narrative with a critical examination of state-individual relationships, offering a poignant critique of the state's management and the societal implications of such crises. Through the lens of care, the artist not only navigates the intricacies of power and resistance but also invites the audience into a shared space of reflection, empathy, and understanding. "Performing Care –– 5241" is a testament to the transformative potential of art in challenging times, embodying the act of caring as both a personal and political act that resists the invisibility of power relations and fosters a collective consciousness towards the realities of life and death during the pandemic.

By situating the artwork within this theoretical and methodological framework, "Performing Care –– 5241" becomes a dynamic space where personal and collective grief, care, and the quest for understanding and resistance are performed and interrogated, offering insights into the complex fabric of human relations in the face of adversity.